Page 25 of Lies Like Love

While Fel was perfect and made for their world, I was poison laced in ink, spreading through everything.

I turn to the counter and prep for my tongue piercing, unwrapping a sterilized needle and setting it aside. Anything to shake last night from my mind. I focus on bleaching my equipment a final time while Crew’s death metal mix plays on repeat in the shop. It’s not my taste, but at least the screaming drowns out my thoughts.

When footsteps down the hall get closer, I spray down the black leather chair in preparation.

“Take a seat.” I toss the rag into a bin in the corner of the room, before turning to face my next victim.

But as the door to my piercing station closes, ocean-blue eyes stare back at me. The coolness of the deepest parts singing a siren song that makes me want to drown. Her red hair, bright as fire in a messy bun on top of her head.

She shouldn’t be here.

But fuck if I’m not tempted to remind her why.

7

Fel

IhatethatJudelooks amused when he sees me standing here. I hate that he takes away my power in any situation with one look. I hate that I can’t just let it go. That I needed to show up at the parlor and prove myself. But I’m tired of him walking away whenever he wants, and this time, I’m not letting him get away with it.

“You always were shit at following directions.” Jude picks up a needle, and it feels a little like a threat.

“You always were arrogant enough to think you’re the only one who makes the rules.”

I cross my arms over my chest and stare at him, wishing it was enough to break this tension, but he just smirks in amusement.

“What do you want, Fel?”

“You walked away.”

I should be trying to play it cool, but Jude breaks through all my patience with one sharp gaze.

“Which time?”

“All of them.” I drop my hands to my sides and ball them into fists, hating that it’s so easy for him to draw a reaction from me while he stands there completely unaffected. “But I’m talking about last night.”

“Were you hoping I wouldn’t?” He sets down the needle and slowly walks closer, planting his hand beside my head on the closed door behind me. “Were you hoping I’d take what I earned from your pretty lips instead?”

“No.” I hope he doesn’t notice how much it sounds like a lie.

Jude reaches up and smears his thumb over my lower lip like he did last night and smirks. “Liar.”

Pushing off the wall, he steps back and stares down at me with a smug expression that boils my irritation to the surface.

“Think whatever you want.”

“I will. Besides, you’re the one who’s standing inmyparlor. Again.”

“I’m here to remind you that you don’t get to tell me what to do.” I tip my chin up. “You don’t get to reappear after eleven years and think that you being my stepbrother for the whole five seconds our parents were married gives you any right to dictate my life. I don’t take directions from you anymore. Or anyone else for that matter.”

“You done?” Jude lifts an eyebrow.

I nod my head. “As long as you hear what I’m saying.”

“Oh, I hear you, Red.” He breathes out a dark chuckle. “But you’re not walking around that ring again. I can fucking guarantee it.”

“Says who?”

“Me.”

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